News

Successful BEEE Non-local Student Gathering 202324 Strengthens Connections and Community

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is delighted to announce the successful BEEE Non-local Student Gathering 2023/24, organized by the Department. The event, held on 20th September 2023, provided a fantastic opportunity for non-local students in the BEEE BEng programme to connect with their peers and Department staff. The gathering, held at Room ZS869, 8/F Block Z, PolyU, welcomed Year 1 and Year 2 non-local students, along with esteemed guests including Professor Asif Usmani, Head of Unit, Ir Dr Wong Ling Tim, Associate Head & BEng Programme Leader, and Dr Cheung Hiu Dan Hilda, Deputy BEng Programme Leader. The in-person event featured various activities aimed at fostering camaraderie and building relationships. Participants enjoyed a warm welcome speech by the Head of Unit and Programme Leaders, introducing upcoming department events. A casual self-introduction session allowed students to share their names, nationalities, hobbies, and study backgrounds. Representatives of current non-local students shared their experiences, followed by a staff-student sharing session where participants engaged in meaningful conversations over tea and refreshments. The gathering concluded with a memorable group photo session, capturing the spirit of unity among the attendees. We extend our sincere appreciation to all who attended, making the BEEE Non-local Student Gathering 2023/24 a resounding success. We encourage those who couldn't attend to stay connected and participate in future department events. Thank you to everyone for their active participation and enthusiasm. Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities to connect within the BEEE community! To view photos from the gathering, please visit our photo gallery here.  

BEEE’s Associate Professor Awarded the National’s 2023 Excellent Young Scientists Fund on Wildfire Research

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is delighted to announce that our Associate Professor, Dr Huang Xinyan, has been granted a total funding of RMB 2 million from the National's 2023 Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macau). Dr Huang's research focuses on fundamental fire dynamics and the development of smart firefighting technologies to enhance fire safety in buildings and cities. His investigations extend to understanding the complexities of natural fire phenomena and the interaction between humans and wildland fires. The awarded project, "Smouldering Wildfire," specifically examines the burning of decomposed plant litter and organic soils. These large-scale smouldering wildfires lead to significant economic losses, regional haze events, ecological damage, and substantial carbon emissions. Dr Huang's research will involve conducting experiments of varying scales, developing AI-powered computational models to predict smouldering-related wildfire carbon emissions, and proposing a smart firefighting framework for preventing, detecting, and suppressing smouldering wildfires. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Excellent Young Scientists Fund aims to support young scholars (under the age of 38 for males or 40 for females) who have made significant contributions to basic research and demonstrated innovation in their respective fields, fostering their growth as internationally recognized scholars. Each year, only 25 young scholars in Hong Kong and Macau are selected to receive this prestigious funding. The Department would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Huang for this outstanding achievement.  

Inspiring BEEE Student Video: Miss SHMIDT Arailym's HKIE Journey

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is delighted to share with you an inspiring piece of news regarding Miss Shmidt Arailym, a recipient of the HKIE Scholarship 2020/21. Miss Shmidt Arailym has recently submitted a video showcasing her active participation in HKIE activities throughout the past year.   This captivating video, which has been uploaded to the department's website, provides a glimpse into Miss Shmidt Arailym's remarkable journey as an aspiring engineer. It highlights her dedication, passion, and notable contributions to HKIE initiatives, demonstrating her commitment to personal and professional growth within the engineering field.   By sharing her experiences, Miss Shmidt Arailym aims to inspire fellow students to actively engage in HKIE activities, pursue excellence in their studies, and embrace the vast opportunities available within the engineering community.   We encourage you to watch Miss Shmidt Arailym's video, as it serves as a testament to the transformative power of education, hard work, and active involvement in professional organizations.   We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Miss Shmidt Arailym for her outstanding achievements and her invaluable contributions to the HKIE community. Her dedication and enthusiasm are truly commendable, and we are confident that she will continue to excel in her academic and professional endeavors.  

BEEE Student Awarded The HKIE Prize for Outstanding Engineering Students 2022/23

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce that Mr Leung Tsz Hin, a talented and dedicated student, has been honored as the recipient of The HKIE Prize for Outstanding Engineering Students 2022/23.   The award, valued at HK$5,000, is presented annually by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) to recognize exceptional engineering students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance, dedication, and a passion for their field of study.   Mr Leung Tsz Hin, a BEEE student, has consistently displayed exemplary commitment, innovation, and academic excellence throughout his academic journey. His remarkable achievements and contributions in the field of engineering have earned him this well-deserved recognition.   We congratulate Mr Leung Tsz Hin on this outstanding accomplishment and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.  

Welcome Message from Department Head

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) extends a warm welcome to all our students. Established in December 1981, we have been dedicated to serving Hong Kong's building services engineering industry by promoting sustainable, efficient, and healthy indoor and urban living environments. As part of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, we offer a comprehensive range of study programs, from Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) to Masters (MSc and MEng) right up to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), providing world-class teaching and conducting internationally leading research.   In today's world, providing high-quality living environments to rapidly urbanizing and aging populations while facing the challenges of climate change and environmental pollution is of utmost importance. With the projected global population reaching 9.7 billion by 2050, and 70% of people expected to live in urban areas, there is a critical need to address these challenges. Future building engineers must be data-savvy and work in interdisciplinary teams to deliver optimal solutions for smart urban environments. Our programs are designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to design high-performance buildings and building systems, leveraging the latest technologies such as sensor networks, AI, IoT, data science, and BIM. This is consistent with our mission, stated as, to imagine, engineer and promote sustainable, salutogenic and safe environments for human habitation.   At BEEE, our full-time academic and teaching staff members are actively engaged in research activities focused on three core themes:   Building Energy: Energy issues in buildings are addressed in the context of both demand and supply to improve the sustainability of the built environment. Building Environment: Optimisation of buildings and built environments for thermal comfort, indoor air quality, visual/spatial and vibration/acoustic aspects to improve occupant health and productivity. Building Safety and Resilience: Protection of building occupants from hazards such as fire and lightning to improve safety and resilience of communities, buildings and built environments.   I sincerely appreciate your interest in our department and programs. By joining us, you embark on a journey to learn and contribute to the promotion of smarter urban environments for a better and more sustainable future for humanity and our planet.   Once again, I extend a warm welcome and look forward to your successful and fulfilling journey with us.   Prof. Asif Usmani Head of Unit Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering  

BEEE Undergraduate Student Awarded ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Scholarship for the 2022-2023

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is proud to announce that one of our undergraduate students, Mr. Ho Cheuk Him, has been awarded the ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. This scholarship recognizes Mr. Ho's outstanding academic performance and contributions to ASHRAE. He will be invited to the ASHRAE Annual Dinner for the prize presentation. The ASHRAE Annual Dinner has been held on June 20, 2023, at the Grand Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East, Tseung Kwan O. We congratulate Mr. Ho on this significant achievement and wish him continued success in his academic pursuits. This award is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his studies. We are proud to have him as a member of our BEEE community and look forward to seeing him contribute to the field of building services engineering. We are proud of Mr Ho ‘s accomplishments and wish him continued success in their studies and future careers. Congratulations once again to Ho Cheuk Him.  

BEEE Team Won Hanson Merit Award in EMSD Hanson Competition 2022

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to report that BEEE undergraduate student Ho Cheuk Him and BEEE Postdoctoral Fellow Sun Bo have won the "Hanson Merit Award" in the EMSD Hanson Competition 2022 for Cheuk Him’s FYP project on "Long-term Energy Performance of Bifacial and Monofacial Solar Photovoltaic Panels in Hong Kong". On 29 June, Ho Cheuk Him attended the award ceremony with Ir Professor Lu Lin Vivien.   The "Hanson Merit Award" recognizes outstanding projects related to energy-saving and environmental protection, and the team’s achievement is a testament to their dedication and hard work in the field of energy-saving and sustainability.   We extend our warmest congratulations to Ho Cheuk Him and Sun Bo on their achievement and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.  

BEEE’s Chair Professor Awarded the International Association for Green Energy (IAGE) Lifetime Achievement Award 2023

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce that our Chair Professor, Professor Jerry Jinyue Yan was awarded the International Association for Green Energy (IAGE) Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 for his outstanding leadership, research achievements, and advancement of knowledge and technology in energy systems; renewable energy; climate change mitigation; and related environment and energy policies.   The IAGE Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contribution to the advancement of green energy over their lifetime. The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by IAGE.   We extend our sincerest congratulations to Prof. Yan for his remarkable achievement. We wish him continued success.  

BEEE Professor as co-author published a new book on Meteorological Data Handbook for Building Environment and Energy Application Engineering

We are pleased to announce that Ir Professor Yang Hongxing, Professor from the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, PolyU, have co-authored a book titled "Meteorological Data Handbook for Building Environment and Energy Application Engineering." The book provides a comprehensive analysis of meteorological data and its application in building environment and energy engineering. It covers various topics, including climate classification, weather data sources, measurement methods, and data analysis techniques. Professor Yang Hongxing is a renowned researcher and educator in the field of building environment and energy engineering. The typical-year meteorological data generated in the book for more than 300 locations in China will be very useful for researchers and engineers in building environment and energy engineering for building energy studies and applications.   Congratulations to Professor Yang Hongxing on this new book publication and recognition. We look forward to the impact his work will have on the field.  

BEEE’s Postgraduate Students Won the Gold Award of Outstanding Presentation at IFMA’s Inter-Institutional Competition on Facility Management Project Presentation 2022-2023

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is proud to announce that two of our PhD students, Mr. Wong Ho Yin and Mr. Cheung Wai Kit, have won the Gold Award for Outstanding Presentation at IFMA's Inter-Institutional Competition on Facility Management Project Presentation 2022-2023. Both PhD students were supervised by BEEE Assistant Professor Dr Huang Xinyan.   In February 2023, Mr. Wong and Mr. Cheung presented their latest research ideas and their applications to the fire safety industry, which included their project titled 'Revolutionary Evacuation and Management System'. Their project aligned with FM core competencies in the areas of 'Real estate and property management', 'Technology', and 'Emergency Preparedness and business continuity'. The team's efforts were acknowledged with the Gold Award in the competition.   The proposed 'Revolutionary Evacuation and Management System' comprises of two parts: a wireless detectors mesh network and dynamic exit signs. The fire detector system, which utilizes artificial intelligence technology, can significantly reduce the number of false alarms and installation costs. The dynamic exit sign system can guide evacuees towards the safest evacuation paths, reducing evacuation time. This system will be a crucial component of the novel smart firefighting technology developed in PolyU (the SureFire Project). The system can be applied to existing buildings and next-generation smart buildings, further increasing the fire safety level in Hong Kong.   The IFMA presentation competition is an inter-institutional presentation competition in the Asia Pacific region that encourages students to pursue Facility Management (FM) as their career of choice. The competition provides a platform for students to exchange ideas with peers from different institutions and receive valuable feedback and comments from professionals in the FM industry.   The Department of BEEE congratulates Mr. Wong Ho Yin and Mr. Cheung Wai Kit on their outstanding achievement and wishes them continued success